PROVO, Utah — With an impressive performance on Saturday night, Fousseyni Traore emerged as a standout player for BYU, notching 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, achieving his second double-double of the season while coming off the bench. Egor Demin also contributed significantly, scoring 15 points and securing six rebounds, as No. 25 BYU overpowered West Virginia 77-56. The victory marked the Cougars’ sixth consecutive win, bringing their season record to 21-8 and 12-6 in the Big 12. Richie Saunders added to the offensive effort by posting 13 points.
On the other side, Javon Small led West Virginia, tallying 15 points for the Mountaineers, who now stand at 17-12 and 8-10 in the conference. Sencire Harris and Amani Hansberry chipped in with seven points each for their team. Despite their efforts, West Virginia struggled to find momentum against the efficient Cougars.
In terms of shooting, West Virginia faced challenges, managing only a 33% conversion rate from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. BYU, in contrast, showed resilience, especially in the latter half of the game, scoring 52 points after a modest 25 in the first.
A pivotal moment unfolded when Demin, Dallin Hall, and Trey Stewart each sank a three-pointer in quick succession, propelling BYU ahead 61-37 with just over eight minutes remaining in the second half. The Cougars overcame a rough start from long range, shooting 0 for 4 in the first half but rebounding to hit 5 of 11 from deep in the second. Their inside game was dominant, as they tallied 46 points in the paint.
Looking forward, BYU will hit the road for a clash with Iowa State on Tuesday, while West Virginia will travel to face Utah on Wednesday.
